Abstract

Background

This study aimed to evaluate the associations of selected demographic, individual,
social, and environmental factors with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA)
in a sample of children and adolescents.

Methods

MVPA was assessed among youth (n = 294) 10-17-years-old using the ActiGraph accelerometer.
Youth completed measures of demographic and individual variables related to physical
activity (PA), perceived social support by parents and peers, and perceived neighborhood
characteristics. Parents completed the long-form of the International Physical Activity
Questionnaire. The Physical Activity and Media Inventory was used to measure the home
environment and Geographical Information Systems software was used to measure the
physical neighborhood environment. Bivariate correlations and hierarchical multiple
regression were conducted stratified by gender.

Results

Boys participated in significantly more MVPA than girls. In hierarchical analyses,
peer support, home PA equipment, and temperature were significantly associated with
MVPA among boys whereas distance to the school they attended was associated with MVPA
among girls. The final models accounted for 25% and 15% of the variance in MVPA among
boys and girls, respectively.

Conclusions

Important differences exist among the individual, social, and environmental factors
related to MVPA between boys and girls. Boys' levels of activity appear to be influenced
by factors closely linked to unstructured and social types of activities whereas girls'
activities relate to internal and external barriers as well as their proximity to
their schools. The prospective contribution of these important individual, social,
and environmental factors to changes in MVPA among children and adolescents remains
to be determined.